Mynda Ohs is a recognized expert and speaker on firefighter wellness issues with over 14 years of experience in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. She is a former EMT who married a firefighter and began her road to her present writing of the book Fully Involved- A Guide for Being in A Relationship With A …
Positive Connections: So you want to Marry a Firefighter? Read More »
Firefighters can’t turn off what they have seen. How long a firefighter has been on the job will determine how many slides they have stored. They have the book on all the horrible things that can happen to people they love. This translates into controlling and overprotectiveness. I’m sure many firefighters have been told they …
How Does A Career of Slides Affect A Firefighter? (featured in firewire) Read More »
I never got into this for any other reason then to help out first responders and their families. I was invited to be on the Palm Springs NBC morning show to talk about my new book Fully Involved. Click here to purchase on Amazon.
Stress and anxiety SUCK! Unfortunately there isn’t any medication or technique that I have that will eliminate these feelings. They are part of being a human and just need to be managed on a regular basis. If we don’t have good balance in our lives the stress and anxiety grows to be bigger than what …
As a therapist of first responders only I have been on this roll with everyone else to bring awareness and remove the stigma of mental health. This is an extremely important topic. However, if we shift our focus completely to the negative it’s easy to forget or even see the good. Part of resiliency is …
Once a trauma is encoded in your memory the brain can be triggered by something you see, smell or hear. The brain will pull the past memory not realizing that you are not there in that situation. Then the body will activate your flight or fight response thus why you may have such an intense …
Many people have heard of post-traumatic stress (PTS), a normal response to an abnormal event, but not many recognize the struggles and hardships of trauma also can mean opportunities for growth. The experiences of loss and trauma are part of life. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) means many who experience trauma can come out stronger as a …
This article explains how some people can grow from a trauma and see life differently. However, don’t be confused and think this means you won’t experience suffering. PTG doesn’t mean you get a detour from the pain. It just means maybe you can become stronger from the journey. Take a look and read the whole …
The divorce rate for firefighters is three times that of the general population, which is the highest rate in the nation, second only to that of the military. A functioning, long-term marriage in this profession is uncommon; a happy, thriving, intimate one is rare. My husband Mike and I are fortunate to have the latter. …
What Is The Personal Toll on Firefighter Families? Read More »
PTSD symptoms in first responders look a lot different than PTSD symptoms in sexual assault survivors. These symptoms below are specific to PTSD among first responders. Intrusive memories, dreams, or flashbacks of a specific incident Refusing to talk about a traumatic event Losing interest in activities Avoiding places where a traumatic event occurred Feelings of …
PTSD Symptoms in First Responders Looks Different, Read More »
